2006-12-27 00:17:24 · 22 answers · asked by endless mike 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Back in the day, NASCAR drivers had STOCK CARS that were built and maintained by the drivers and and regular mechanics. Aerodynamics didn't play as much a part as horsepower, so it was a matter of competing driving skills with other drivers with equal equipment.
With that in mind, King Richard stands head and shoulders above the rest, including Earnhardt and Gordon.
2006-12-27 02:59:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Certainly Richard Petty was one of the best drivers. But it was a different time and era for drivers. Then the drivers really had to use the skills to win races. Dale Earnhardt would have to be the best driver of this era of racing. He had both skill and determination and plain out guts. He was enjoyable to watch and at times heart stopping. The new rookie drivers now are ok, but they will never know what it was like to drive during Petty and Earnhardts time.
2006-12-27 15:02:03 · answer #2 · answered by nascar88honey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You Have to remember back in the day Dodge was building cars specifically for petty to race (does anyone remember the superbird). In Petty’s last 9 seasons ( 76 -84 ) he won 23 times as compared to winning 10 in a row and a total of 27 races in 67’ before Nascar restrictions and the start of the Modern era.
2006-12-27 14:56:19 · answer #3 · answered by dwill10267 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not the best ever but the best in his day. Racing has changed so much since he ran and the demands on the drivers are much different now. Each generation brings its own "greatness" to the table as shown in Dale Earnhardt Sr, then Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. The next generations of drivers will have to be more technical than mechanical.
2006-12-27 11:01:10 · answer #4 · answered by Jodelle B 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Richard Petty, Auto Racer
Born: 2 July 1937
Birthplace: Level Cross, North Carolina
Best Known As: Seven-time winner of the Daytona 500
Richard Petty is "The King" of NASCAR racing, the driver of "Ol' 43" and a record-breaking legend over three decades of auto racing. Petty, the son of driver Lee Petty, drove his first professional race in 1958. In 1959 he was named Rookie of the Year, and in his career he won 200 NASCAR races; he also won the Daytona 500 seven times and he won the Winston Cup championship seven times (a record later equalled by Dale Earnhardt). He retired from driving in 1992, but continues in the sport as the owner of Petty Racing. After retiring, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the U.S.'s highest civilian award.
Petty's son Kyle also became a professional auto racer... Richard's grandson Adam Petty (the son of Kyle) was 19 years old when he was killed on 12 May 2000 during a practice run at New Hampshire International Speedway... Richard Petty was the 1996 Republican candidate for secretary of state in North Carolina, but lost to Democrat Elaine Marshall.
2006-12-27 08:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by cajadman 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well I think so as that is how he got the nickname THE KING, of NASCAR. Then their are other great drivers like Dale Earnhardt Sr. who was a great driver and his life was tragically ended at Daytona in 2001, so we never knew what else he could have accomplished in his racing career. Then their are other drivers that you could say are the greatest drivers of their era like Jeff Gordon, who has raced for 14 years with 2 different generations of drivers, he raced with older guys like Petty, at least for his 1st race, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and a whole bunch of other highly respected guys in NASCAR, and he also is racing today with guys that are barely old enough to drive and only have a few years of experience under their belt, like his teammate Kyle Busch, is 21, and thats 14 years younger then Jeff Gordon, yet Gordon still has that competitive edge that all the drivers are looking for and wishing they had, so he is getting to know and work with alot of talented drivers who are younger and older then he is, and their are things that he is still learning, and hes had tons of experience. It just kind of depends on who your taling to and their opinion of all the guys.
2006-12-27 10:44:59 · answer #6 · answered by coolliz2444 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selecting the `greatest driver ever' is really subjective. Richard Petty may indeed be the greatest NASCAR driver ever, however, to the best of my knowledge, he hasn't driven or raced in a wide variety of motorsports, certainly not of the magnitude of drivers such as A.J. Foyt or Mario Andretti.
It's not the answer you want, but I really don't think Richard Petty is the overall greatest driver ever.
2006-12-27 13:24:17 · answer #7 · answered by Gregnir 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
For the era that Petty drove he was the best.As the modern era came in Earnhardt became one to beat and he rose to stardom.So yes Petty is the King and is the Greatest as for his era.
2006-12-27 08:43:16 · answer #8 · answered by blakree 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Petty won alot of races because of their innovations with cars and in pit stops. He was a great driver, don't know about best ever but one of them
2006-12-27 09:15:13 · answer #9 · answered by oldfrd 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Matter of opinion really. 200 wins. gonna be hard to beat. However, I believe the competition is alot tighter now. Also you have stock car, open wheel, grand prix and many other styles. He will definately be known as "one" of the greatest ever.
2006-12-27 08:27:15 · answer #10 · answered by tim g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋